tackling the list: Annie (1982)

The next film to watch was Annie (1982), the classic heart-warming story of a red headed orphan looking for a home. Now of course I already knew the basic storyline going in, most people do, but there were underlying themes I wasn’t expecting to see in a light-hearted musical; it has been described as, “a bizarre, patriotic portrait of capitalist white America”

The character Annie is feisty and instantly likeable to the audience; her attitude and determination instantly make you want to cheer for her to get what she wants. We open with Annie singing wistfully about how she imagines her parents to be; it’s a sweet opening for the film and instantly hooks us into her story.

Despite on the surface being an easy family film, it has a disguised political message promoting white, capitalist America. A major example of this is when Annie’s dog Sandy spots and apprehends a bomber trying to kill Mr Warbucks and his employees. Mr Warbucks simply brushes this off as if it is an everyday occurrence with the explanation that he is an example of how the American system works, stating that some countries don’t want that getting out. This is a clear example of how the film is trying to sell capitalism at a young age to impressionable young people, painting those who don’t believe in it as evil.

So, the lovely family film has a hidden agenda under the surface. Despite this, I actually found the film really enjoyable, the classic songs are catchy and naturally memorable, and the storyline is sweet. There are naturally some issues that don’t seem to be addressed – how Miss Hannigan did not end up in jail is beyond me- but what more is expected from this type of film?

Until now I was only going off the 2014 remake and, while I enjoyed the classic, I still prefer the modernised version. Despite that, I would definitely recommend this film, if for no other reason that it being an enjoyable classic.